South African sensation Tyla’s debut album, which blends Amapiano, Afrobeats, and R&B, will no longer compete in the R&B category at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
Instead, the Recording Academy’s R&B screening committee has moved the self-titled project to the Best Pop Vocal Album category, sparking conversations about genre classification and representation in the music world.
Tyla, who made history earlier this year by winning the first-ever Grammy for Best African Music Performance with her viral hit “Water,” now faces stiff competition in the pop field.
She will be up against pop powerhouses like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Ariana Grande—a notable shift given the deeply rooted African influences of her album.
This decision comes as a surprise to many, considering that Tyla’s album has a core foundation in Amapiano, a genre hailing from Southern Africa, combined with R&B elements.
With six of its tracks landing on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart, including the No. 1 hit “Water,” the project seemed destined for an R&B category nomination.
The album also boasts collaborations with big names like Travis Scott, Tems, and Becky G, further solidifying its cross-genre appeal.
Critics argue that the album’s sonic diversity would make it a better fit for Best Progressive R&B Album, an award that recognizes R&B albums blending other genres like rap, pop, and dance.
This is the same category where SZA’s SOS triumphed last year. However, the Recording Academy’s choice to place Tyla’s work in pop raises questions about how genre boundaries are defined, especially when it comes to artists from African and Black music genres.
Many are drawing comparisons to Lizzo’s 2020 album Cuz I Love You, which, despite its mix of pop, rap, and R&B, won Best Progressive R&B Album.
The move to categorize Tyla’s album as pop has sparked debate about the Grammys’ inconsistent genre placements. Fans also pointed out the inclusion of Tommy Richman’s Million Dollar Baby in rap categories, despite its minimal rap elements.
With nominations set to be announced on November 8, the final decision could set the tone for how non-traditional pop artists are recognized in future award shows.
The 2025 Grammy Awards will air live on February 2 from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, and Tyla’s category shift is sure to be a hot topic until then.
Whether this move is an unexpected detour or a path to new recognition, Tyla’s musical journey continues to defy convention—keeping the conversation about genre, culture, and the Grammys wide open.
